Pte 52462 Richard Ainsworth

• Age: 21
• From: Bury
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• Died Wednesday 21st February 1917
• Commemorated at: Warlincourt Halte Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: VI.A.11

Richard was born in the fourth quarter of 1895, the son of John Arthur Ainsworth and his wife Florence (nee Brothwood). His parents married in the second quarter of 1892 at Holy Trinity Church, Bury.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 69 South Garden Street, Bury. Richard is 5 years of age. His father, John, is a tinplate worker born in 1871 in Heywood, Lancashire, whilst his mother, Florence, was born in Donnington, Shropshire in 1868. He has two brothers in the household, James W. born 1893 and newborn Walter. Also present is a boarder.

By 1911 the family are living at 94 Edward Street, Bury. His parents are still in the household, they declare that they have been married for 19 years and have had four children all of whom have survived. His father is now shown as a lamp lighter. Richard is now 14 years of age and is shown as an apprentice in a cotton dye works. He has two siblings declared in the household; James now aged 18 and a packer in a paper mill and Hilda aged 3.

Prior to enlistment Richard was employed by Mr Ratcliffe Taylor's dyeworks, Gigg.

He attended Bank Street Unitarian Sunday School and was a member of the young mans club. 

Richard originally served as Private 29373 in the Lancashire Fusiliers. He was transferred to the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment and died of pneumonia, aged 21, in the 10th Clearing Hospital on 21st February 1917.

In a letter home to his parents a nursing sister from the hospital advised:

"I am very sorry to inform you that your son Private Richard Ainsworth died at this hospital yesterday at 2pm. He was very ill with pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital at 10 o'clock the previous night. He will be buried at the little cemetery near the hospital"  

Richard now rests at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery in France.

The site of the cemetery was chosen in May 1916. It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from other small military cemeteries.

The cemetery now contains 1,266 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 29 German and two French war graves.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

His death was reported in the Manchester Evening News on 03rd March 1917:

FROM THE DISTRICTS

Bury

Pte RICHARD AINSWORTH, King's Liverpool Regiment, died from pneumonia in hospital in France, lived at 94 Edward Street

Soldiers Effects to mother Florence, Pension to father John A.

Richard's name is commemorated on the memorial at Bank Street Unitarian School.

We currently have no further information on Richard Ainsworth, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.